Europe is preparing for a major war: the defense industry is expanding at a record pace

Europe is experiencing an unprecedented phase of rearmament, with the continent’s defense industries increasing production capacity several times over in response to the growing threat from Russia and the need to support Ukraine. Investment in factories, infrastructure, and new technologies has reached historic proportions.

This is reported by the Financial Times.

It is noted that the rate of expansion of defense production in Europe is now three times higher than pre-war figures. In total, more than 7 million square meters have been allocated for new industrial facilities. This indicates a transition from peaceful “precision manufacturing” to the formation of a powerful military-industrial base capable of withstanding a protracted confrontation.

The impetus for the massive modernization was Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine and uncertainty about the US’s long-term commitment to Europe. This forced EU governments to act quickly to invest in their own defense capabilities.

The EU’s Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP) program has allocated €500 million to develop defense production. The goal is to eliminate the deficit in the production of ammunition and missiles, restore arsenals, and guarantee stable arms supplies to Kyiv.

Of the 88 facilities linked to the program, 20 have already seen significant expansion , including new plants and transportation infrastructure. Another 14 are undergoing partial capacity increases, while the rest remain unchanged.

The largest defense projects:

• Rheinmetall and the Hungarian N7 Holding have built a large-scale production site in Varpalota (Hungary) for the production of ammunition and explosives.
• BAE Systems in Wales is expanding its 155mm projectile production capacity, increasing production by 16 times.
• MBDA is increasing production of Patriot missiles in Germany under a $5.6 billion NATO contract.

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže stressed that increasing defense production is a critically needed step. At the same time, she stressed the importance of industrial readiness to meet NATO’s growing needs in the future.

Thus, Europe is entering a new era of military readiness, where its own production capabilities, not just allied assistance, play a key role.

Recall that France does not rule out the possibility of a major armed conflict in Europe in the next decade . Such a scenario is set out in the new strategic doctrine of security and defense, published under the title “National Strategic Review – 2025”.

It was previously reported that Europe’s largest port , Rotterdam, is preparing for a possible NATO war with Russia, reserving spaces for ships with military cargo in the event of a conflict.

As reported, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that Russia could attack the alliance within the next 5 years.

In addition, Germany stated that the state must be prepared for aggression from Russia within the next four years.

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